Haringey shifts to Green leadership under Cllr Mark Blake

Elena Popescu Author 2026-05-21 12:27 3 min read

The Haringey Green Group officially assumed control of Haringey Council on May 20, following a pivotal vote at the Annual Full Council meeting held at Tottenham Town Hall. Cllr Mark Blake was confirmed as the new Council Leader, ushering in a minority administration that marks a significant departure from previous governance structures in the borough.

The transition follows a period of political realignment where the Green Party leads Haringey as the largest group, though without an outright majority. During the confirmation vote, 27 councillors voted in favor of Cllr Blake’s leadership. Both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups chose to abstain from the vote, and no alternative nominations for the leadership were put forward.

Minority administration vote at Tottenham Town Hall

Operating as a minority administration means the Green Group will need to navigate council business through consensus and cooperation with opposition parties. This political reality was acknowledged by Cllr Blake in his first address as Leader, where he emphasized the necessity of working across the aisle to address the borough’s immediate needs.

The new leadership arrives at a time of significant fiscal constraint. The council is currently grappling with a substantial financial gap driven by rising costs in essential services. Cllr Blake identified social care, temporary accommodation, and children’s services as the primary areas of structural pressure. He noted that the scale of the financial challenge requires the council to work differently and prioritize transparency and sound stewardship to rebuild public trust.

Haringey cabinet appointments and portfolios

To manage the council’s executive functions, Cllr Blake has appointed a full cabinet with specific focuses on housing, climate action, and finance. The leadership structure includes two Co-Deputy Leaders to share the administrative burden.

The decision to rotate the Health and Social Care portfolio between Cllr Tehseen Khan and Cllr Hannah Ward throughout the year is a notable administrative choice, reflecting the heavy workload associated with the borough’s adult social care commitments.

Civic leadership and scrutiny roles

While the Green Group holds the executive leadership, other parties secured key civic and oversight positions. Cllr Dawn Barnes of the Liberal Democrat Group was elected as the Mayor of Haringey following a close vote. Her nomination received support from both the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups. Cllr Barnes will serve as the borough’s civic lead until May 2027, representing Haringey at official functions and presiding over council meetings.

Cllr Makbule Gunes of the Labour Group was confirmed as the Deputy Mayor. The distribution of committee chair roles also reflects the multi-party nature of the current council. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which plays a vital role in holding the executive to account, will be chaired by Cllr Lucia das Neves of the Labour Group. Meanwhile, the Strategic Planning Committee will be headed by Cllr Scott Emery of the Liberal Democrat Group.

This distribution of power ensures that while the Green Group sets the policy direction, the mechanisms of oversight and planning remain influenced by the borough’s other major political factions. The new administration faces an immediate task of stabilizing the budget while maintaining frontline services for residents in a challenging economic climate.

Source: Haringey Council

Context & actions About this article Report Share

Source check Political reporting

This report is based on official proceedings from the Haringey Council Annual Full Council meeting.

Checks

• Confirmed cabinet appointments against official council records
• Verified vote counts and abstention details from the May 20 meeting
• Cross-referenced civic roles with Liberal Democrat and Labour group announcements

Haringey Council Newsroom Check Haringey Council meeting minutes

Source

Haringey Council Newsroom

Scope

Haringey

Updated

2026-05-21 12:27

Report

Article contextPeople & topics3#7

Mark BlakeDawn BarnesRuairidh Paton

#Green Party#Haringey Council#Haringey Greens#Local Government#London Politics#Mark Blake#Tottenham Town Hall

Share: